However nothing could have prepared McCorkell for what was going to happen in the short programme as she went to ground after just two of the eight required elements.

The seven-time British champion landed her opening double axel perfectly but couldn’t repeat the trick with the triple lutz and double toeloop and fell perilously close to the barriers.

And McCorkell admitted to reaching an all-time low after being awarded a score of just 40.64 – nearly 14 less than her short programme performance against all odds at last month’s European Championships.

“I have had great short results all season, even at the European Championships where I felt the worst I ever had,” said McCorkell – who is a member of the Coventry International School of Ice Skating Club.

“I had been sick for more than a month and still managed to get a personal best which is 13 points more than here. I feel really bad I did what I did but I can’t change it now. I have no idea how it happened, I felt good.

“There was a long wait between the performances and that gave me a lot of time to think and I wish I could change it but I can’t.

“I have had an amazing experience and I am really grateful to have been able to perform but I am just devastated that is the only way to describe how I feel.”

McCorkell’s devastation mounted further as she missed out on a place in today’s free programme by five places after ending the night ranked 29th out of the 30 skaters.

“It is so hard but I have to deal with it now because it is over. I have got to learn from it, that is the way sport goes,” she added.